Corporate worship is often one of the first things that gets dismissed when people don't feed their spiritual journey. I would be the last person to say it is impossible to worship God on that nature trail or golf course or while working out. But jettisoning the blessings of corporate worship does damage only evident over time.
Corporate worship brings us into contact with folks who are interested in matters of faith and growing spiritually. You may find folks on the golf course on Sunday morning who are deeply spiritual and filled with a desire to discuss deep topics, but I've not heard so many stories about that. You see, when we are at church we are statistically more likely to fall into a discussion that leads to other activities like working on the landscape committee where folks are likely to discuss a mission trip experience or a book that they are reading that has them thinking about a matter of faith. They may also talk about work they are doing at a local ministry like a thrift store or food pantry. Nothing wrong with golfing buddies, just not so likely to discuss deep topics between drives. And when I'm fighting the temptation to cut corners ethically, sketchy folks are at least unlike to advocate for all-out self-will run riot in the parking lot after services.
Corporate worship brings us into contact with folks who are seeking a faith experience, who are longing to hear other people's stories, who may need prayer and not know how to access that, who are facing a health challenge and wonder if it is fair to ask God for help when they have been estranged for a long time. (The answer to that is this: it is better than OK; it is awesome!) So you may have an opportunity to be a help to someone you would not meet in the course of your regular life.
Corporate worship soothes the soul, stirs the conscience, invites in ideas, and opens avenues of fellowship, friendship and service in ways I have never found anywhere else. Maybe you hesitate to participate in worship because you think it is only for "like minded people" but actually church services are filled with people with many ideas, many approaches and at different places on their journey. If a church is not welcoming, find a different church. Once you find a welcoming church filled with people to act in ways consistent with their declared faith then stick around and watch and learn, join in, participate, contribute.
You can get to Hoboken on foot, but taking a plane, train or bicycle will all improve the journey. So you can find God as a social if not literal hermit, but why do that? God says, "Love me; love my people" and to do that in any meaningful way requires that you have contact with the people. And God tells us to do things, not for God's entertainment, but for our own highest good.
Next Sunday is Easter and there will be a crowd at most churches. You can walk in, have a seat, talk to folks, listen to the sermon, listen to the conversations around you, look over the ministry opportunities all without feeling like a deer in the headlights. If you were raised in a church, you may even find a stray happy memory. If it is all new to you, it may feel a little like you dropped into the mad-hatter's tea party, but either way it will not be dull and it may be the beginning of something amazing.
Hope to see you there!
Corporate worship brings us into contact with folks who are interested in matters of faith and growing spiritually. You may find folks on the golf course on Sunday morning who are deeply spiritual and filled with a desire to discuss deep topics, but I've not heard so many stories about that. You see, when we are at church we are statistically more likely to fall into a discussion that leads to other activities like working on the landscape committee where folks are likely to discuss a mission trip experience or a book that they are reading that has them thinking about a matter of faith. They may also talk about work they are doing at a local ministry like a thrift store or food pantry. Nothing wrong with golfing buddies, just not so likely to discuss deep topics between drives. And when I'm fighting the temptation to cut corners ethically, sketchy folks are at least unlike to advocate for all-out self-will run riot in the parking lot after services.
Corporate worship brings us into contact with folks who are seeking a faith experience, who are longing to hear other people's stories, who may need prayer and not know how to access that, who are facing a health challenge and wonder if it is fair to ask God for help when they have been estranged for a long time. (The answer to that is this: it is better than OK; it is awesome!) So you may have an opportunity to be a help to someone you would not meet in the course of your regular life.
Corporate worship soothes the soul, stirs the conscience, invites in ideas, and opens avenues of fellowship, friendship and service in ways I have never found anywhere else. Maybe you hesitate to participate in worship because you think it is only for "like minded people" but actually church services are filled with people with many ideas, many approaches and at different places on their journey. If a church is not welcoming, find a different church. Once you find a welcoming church filled with people to act in ways consistent with their declared faith then stick around and watch and learn, join in, participate, contribute.
You can get to Hoboken on foot, but taking a plane, train or bicycle will all improve the journey. So you can find God as a social if not literal hermit, but why do that? God says, "Love me; love my people" and to do that in any meaningful way requires that you have contact with the people. And God tells us to do things, not for God's entertainment, but for our own highest good.
Next Sunday is Easter and there will be a crowd at most churches. You can walk in, have a seat, talk to folks, listen to the sermon, listen to the conversations around you, look over the ministry opportunities all without feeling like a deer in the headlights. If you were raised in a church, you may even find a stray happy memory. If it is all new to you, it may feel a little like you dropped into the mad-hatter's tea party, but either way it will not be dull and it may be the beginning of something amazing.
Hope to see you there!
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